John Malkovich

Equally adept on stage and on screen, acclaimed actor and occasional director John Malkovich long remained an enigma to audiences, while establishing himself as one of the most distinguished and accom...
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To Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) the U.N. represents a chance for world peace and diplomacy. She should know: she works there as an interpreter and sees how the power-brokering halls of the U.N. avert global crises daily. Her world is turned upside down however when she overhears a death threat against an African head of state who is coming to the U.S. to deliver an important address. Suddenly Silvia becomes a hunted target of the killers and is placed under the protection of Secret Service agent Tobin Keller (Sean Penn). But Tobin believes Silvia is hiding something--and he's absolutely right. Turns out Silvia has an extremely personal interest vested in the assassination threat. She was raised in the small African country the dignitary hails from and witnessed firsthand how under his malevolent rule her beloved country turned into genocidal ruin. Uh-oh. Now linked irrevocably to the assassination plot Silvia must find a way to elude Tobin playing out a gripping dance of evasion and revelation that keeps them both guessing as they race to stop a terrifying international crisis before it's too late. Wake me up when it's all over.
It's a testament to actors who can carry a film through its own muck. Although Kidman tackles yet another strange accent--Meryl Streep eat your heart out--and Penn once again broods with the best of them they create The Interpreter's best moments as Silvia and Tobin. Silvia obviously has had a very dark and painful past losing almost everyone who ever meant anything to her and plays the little game of I'm-not-going-to-tell-you-everything-I-know succinctly. But she believes in peace and uses her skill with words diplomacy and the subtleties of meaning to get her point across. On the other hand Tobin who is also dealing with personal tragedy is all about instinct action and reading into the most primal human behaviors. But as their relationship deepens--refreshingly not in a sexual way--the two end up learning from each other. In the supporting roles the always-sardonic Catherine Keener does a nice bit as Tobin's partner (but I wish she'd do something as great as Being John Malkovich again). Briton Earl Cameron also gives a rather layered performance for the short time he is on screen as the once-great-turned-evil dictator whose life is threatened even as he is about to face charges of genocide.
Besides Kidman and Penn The Interpreter also has the distinctive talents of veteran director Sydney Pollack to back it up. No stranger to movies with twisty conspiracies having directed Three Days of the Condor Absence of Malice and The Firm Pollack understands how to zero in on the quiet moments and slowly build tension. Unfortunately The Interpreter just can't sustain that tension. Except for a few scenes--especially one involving a bus the would-be assassin and the potential victim--you never feel any real danger. And the woes of the film's fictional African country aren't anything we haven't seen before. Rent Hotel Rwanda if you want the real deal. No The Interpreter's biggest selling point is the fact it was the first time film cameras were allowed inside the inner sanctum of the United Nations. Alfred Hitchcock was rejected back when he was making North by Northwest but Pollack finagled his way in. It is certainly an impressive place. With the rows and rows of foreign diplomats in the General Assembly and the sound proof booths where the highly trained language-savvy interpreters make sure the speeches by world leaders aren't misunderstood it aptly shows the pressures of today's political climate. But it doesn't necessarily incite suspense or political intrigue.

Top Story: Indie Couple Coppola, Jonze Split
Director couple Sofia Coppola and Spike Jonze have decided to divorce, according to MTV News.com. The couple wed four and a half years ago after meeting in 1992. Since then, Coppola, 32, and Jonze, 34, have become indie film whizkids, with the succsess of Jonze's cult flicks Being John Malkovich and Adaptation and Coppola's Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides. Rumors of trouble in the marriage surfaced, however, in recent months, especially after Coppola's semi-autobiographical Translation was released. The L.A. Weekly recently observed that in the film, the "workaholic, emotionally absent photographer" husband, played by Giovanni Ribisi, of Scarlett Johansson's young wife Charlotte "reminds one of Coppola's husband."
Dead Musicians Reap Grammy Nods
Warren Zevon, George Harrison, and the Cashes picked up multiple posthumous Grammy nominations Thursday. Zevon, who died in September from lung cancer, gathered four nods including song of the year, while Harrison picked up three--two years after he, too, died of lung cancer. Country couple Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, who died within months of each other earlier this year, landed four between them. Other deceased nominees included Rosemary Clooney, Celia Cruz, soul legend Sam Cooke and blues giant Muddy Waters.
Limbaugh Blames Politics for Drug Probe
In the drug investigation against him, Rush Limbaugh's attorney is accusing the prosecutor of having political motives in saying his client bought painkillers illegally, Reuters reports. In search warrants released Thursday, investigators alleged that Limbaugh engaged in illegal drug use and went "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers. The controversial radio commentator has denied any wrongdoing. "What [the medical records] show is that Mr. Limbaugh suffered extreme pain and had legitimate reasons for taking pain medication," Limbaugh read on his radio show Thursday from his lawyer's statement. "Unfortunately, because of Mr. Limbaugh's prominence and well-known political opinions, he is being subjected to an invasion of privacy no citizen of this republic should endure."
Second Child Claimed Abuse in Old Jackson Case
Authorities investigating molestation allegations in 1993 against Michael Jackson spoke to a second child at that time who also claimed to have been molested, but no charges were ever filed, a retired sheriff told The Associated Press. Former Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas said late Thursday the child was reluctant to testify and the case was abandoned. Apparently, the claims of molestation were not as severe as what was being alleged by the first boy, whose parent's settled a multimillion-dollar civil settlement with the pop superstar. The second child could have been used as a corroborating witness if the primary victim had testified in court, Thomas told AP.
Celebrate Christmas With Ozzy and the Gang
MTV will air The Osbourne Family Christmas Special Dec. 11 to give viewers a glimpse into the holiday season with America's favorite dysfunctional family, AP reports. Promising to take "holiday specials to a bizarre new level," the program was taped at the family home in Beverly Hills, Calif., and includes appearances by Jessica Simpson, newlyweds Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra, and the show-stopping reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with Electra, matriarch Sharon Osbourne, OutKast's Big Boi, Eddie Griffin, Tracy Morgan, Anthony Anderson and Eva Mendes.
Wanda Yanked, Joe Millionaire Gets New Gig
Fox has pulled the plug on Wanda Sykes' Wanda at Large, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series had a promising midseason start last March but fell in ratings this fall…Meanwhile, Joe Millionaire's first star Evan Marriott has a new gig as a game show host for the Game Show Network. The show Fake-a-Date will feature a contestant who will date two singles, one looking for love and the other who's hoping to win a luxury trip with his or her significant other, AP reports.
Role Call: Graham With Child, Thornton Turns on the Lights
Heather Graham has signed to do the independent feature Samantha's Child, also starring James Purefoy and Andy Serkis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film follows Samantha (Graham), who is unable to get pregnant and goes to a fertility clinic, where she is unknowingly impregnated with the Devil's DNA. Serkis (voice of Gollum in Lord of the Rings) portrays a priest who tries to stop Samantha from having the Devil's child…Billy Bob Thornton is in negotiations to star in the football drama, Friday Night Lights. Based on the book by H.G. Bissinger, the film chronicles the 1988 football season of the Odessa, Texas, Permian High Panthers, capturing the struggles and hopes of a financially troubled town that pins its dreams on the team's Friday night games. Thornton will play the team's coach, the trade paper reports.

Hollywood star Cameron Diaz will marry pop sensation Justin Timberlake wearing a Native American dress designed by her best friend David Jet Black Horse.
The Being John Malkovich beauty, whose mother Billie is of native American descent, wants to break with the tradition of a white gown when she weds later this year, so she will fly Black Horse to Los Angeles next week for a dress consultation.
The designer says, "I am hoping to make her a really cool Native American wedding dress, with white moccasins and everything.
"I think she would look amazing in a white leather shortish dress with beading--the moccasins would match. She has a dress a bit like it already but it would be different and fun."
Articles Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.

John Stamos files for divorce from Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
John Stamos has filed for divorce from wife Rebecca Romijn-Stamos after separating in April. The Hollywood couple, who met at a Victoria's Secret fashion show in 1994, were married for five years. At the time, publicist Lewis Kay said the split was cordial. "It's very amicable," said Kay. "There's no third party. There's no real reason except they've decided to go in separate directions." According to The Associated Press, court papers were filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In June, Stamos told the syndicated TV entertainment show Access Hollywood that the breakup has been difficult for the both of them. "It's been really hard for us," Stamos said in the interview. "The publicity is terrible, and it just undermines the importance of our 10-year relationship." The 41-year-old actor, best known for his role as Jesse on the late-'80s sitcom Full House, also said he was still on good terms with Romijn-Stamos, 41. "We're really good friends, and I adore her and she adores me. It's so weird because ... you are so crazy in love and all of a sudden weird things happen."
Usher denies rivalry with Justin Timberlake
R&amp;B singer Usher tells The Boston Globe in Friday's editions he has no beef with Justin Timberlake. Reports of a frosty feud between the two singers surfaced after former 'N Sync leader Timberlake was crowned "the new King of Pop" over Usher by Rolling Stone magazine. "I'm not in competition with Justin. I'm not in competition with anyone but myself," he told the paper. "I'm not looking for that bad-boy image, I'm not a person who goes out looking for trouble." Usher, whose latest album, Confessions, has sold more than 5 million copies, added: "It's not just about a hit record, it's not just the marketing behind an album, it's about the talent, and I go out there and I work hard. No one can just take your spot. If you really work hard, no one can take your spot."
The Scream painting stolen
Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream was stolen by gunpoint Sunday from an Oslo, Norway, museum in a dramatic daylight raid, Reuters reports. The two masked thieves walked into the crowded Munch Museum in broad daylight, yanked the pictures, which were not insured against theft, from the wall and left through the front door and straight into a waiting car. Norwegian authorities were trying to pinpoint the motive behind the theft amid criticism that the museum security was too lax. "We have many tips…we're keeping all possibilities open," Oslo assistant police chief Iver Stensrud said of the robbery of The Scream and Madonna, both Munch masterpieces and worth tens of millions of dollars.
Alan Alda joins West Wing
Five-time Emmy winner Alan Alda will join the cast of NBC's White House drama The West Wing next season as a Republican from California with presidential ambitions, Reuters reports. In 1999, Alda did an Emmy-nominated stint on ER which is executive produced by West Wing producer John Wells, but this latest role marks his first major series commitment since his award-winning run on CBS' M*A*S*H*. Joining Alda on board West Wing will be Marley Shelton, (Uptown Girls), who will play a former feature reporter mentored by Timothy Busfield's character Danny Concannon, who becomes White House deputy press secretary.
U.N. praises Bollywood HIV/AIDS film
Indian actress-turned-helmer Revathy Menon won rare praise from the United Nations for her film Phir milenge (We'll Meet Again), for choosing for the first time to focus on HIV/AIDS in a mainstream Bollywood film, Variety reports. The story revolves around a successful career woman who learns she is HIV-positive. "When Bollywood, one of the world's largest film industries with massive audiences, produces a film about AIDS, everyone has to sit up and take notice," Peter Piot, executive director of the joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said in a statement released in Mumbai on Friday.
Malkovich, Leigh top Sarajevo film fest guest list
John Malkovich, Mike Leigh and Gerard Depardieu made guest appearances as Sarajevo's annual film festival, AP reports, to help celebrate the Balkan capital's 10th anniversary of a cultural event that began as a simple act of defiance during the country's 1992-1995 war. With people cut off and under attack, the festival was created to remind the world that Sarajevans were starved for culture as well as food, and give moviemakers from southeastern Europe the chance to network and find distributors. This year nine movies from the region competed for awards, with Leigh heading the jury.

Slim-Fast drops Whoopi Goldberg
Diet aid maker Slim-Fast has sacked spokeswoman Whoopi Goldberg after the comedian made a vulgar riff on President Bush's name at a fund-raiser last week, the Florida-based company said Wednesday. According to The New York Post, Goldberg appeared at Thursday's star-studded John Kerry benefit at Radio City Music Hall in New York waving a bottle of wine while firing off a stream of sexual wordplays on Bush's name in a riff about female genitalia. Slim-Fast general manager Terry Olson said in a statement the company regrets that Goldberg's remarks offended some customers. Reuters reports Republicans have expressed outrage over the fund-raiser for Democratic nominee Kerry and his vice presidential running mate, John Edwards, in which entertainers lined up to skewer Bush.
Britney's ex-hubby spills the beans
Britney Spears' ex-husband and childhood friend Jason Alexander is finally spilling the beans about their 55-hour marriage back in January. In an interview with the British tabloid News of the World, which paid Alexander for the story, the former Mr. Spears said he decided to talk now because he realized the pop star wasn't coming back to him. According to Alexander's version of events, Spears proposed to him while they were lying in bed in their Las Vegas hotel suite after several nights of "mind-blowing and rough" sex. He claims they rushed to a local wedding chapel where their limo driver walked Spears down the aisle. But Alexander said their wedding bliss turned to doom and gloom after they returned to their hotel and started spreading the news. "Britney phoned her mom, and I heard Lynne screaming back at her. She went nuts," he said. Alexander claims the dissolution was underway immediately as Britney's family and a legal team went to work. "Britney and her brother came back in and he said we couldn't be married, it was wrong. Then one of her team said I was ruining her career, that her tour would be wrecked and her ticket sales lost. Britney and I just stood on different sides of the room and didn't speak to each other," Alexander explained. "They spread a load of papers on the desk and said if I cared about Britney I'd sign them."
Halle Berry's former husband dishes on breakup
Another ex singing the blues is Halle Berry's former husband, R&amp;B singer Eric Benet. In an interview set to air Thursday on ABC's Primetime Thursday, Benet says his marriage to Berry didn't fall apart because of her stardom, although he admitted being referred to as "Mr. Halle Berry" was difficult. "I would be dishonest if I told you that wasn't an ego blow," he said, adding: "That was not the reason why our marriage fell apart." Benet also denied having a sexual addiction. "I am not a sex addict. I am a person who ... through a series of emotional events, troubles, challenges, made some really, really stupid, painful mistakes," he said, according to the AP. Benet claims he never committed adultery, but admitted to "physical contact that was extremely inappropriate and wrong in a marriage."
Coppola, Tarantino a couple
In a sea of breakup, there are still some hookups happening in Hollywood. Director Quentin Tarantino and filmmaker Sofia Coppola are "seeing each other," their publicist confirmed to The Associated Press Tuesday. The couple was recently photographed together in Madrid, Spain, where the 41-year-old Tarantino was promoting Kill Bill Vol. 2. They "enjoy each other's company," Ward said. Tarantino is the second director linked to Coppola, 33, who is the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola. She was married to Being John Malkovich director Spike Jonze for four years. The couple separated a year ago, and Coppola filed for divorce last December.
One Tree Hill stars get engaged
The stars of the WB drama One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray and co-star Sophia Bush, both 22, announced Monday they are engaged to be married. Murray, who is currently starring in the teen comedy Cinderella Story, made the announcement during an appearance on CBS' The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn. He said popped the question in Australia, where Murray was filming House of Wax, a remake of the 1953 horror about a professor who uses human bodies to create his wax figures. "I had like 500 candles ... and my assistant ... he had to light all the candles while I had to basically take her to a spa and keep her out of the house until the sun went down," he said.
Nick and Jessica dig parenthood
Newlyweds Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey could very well become parents soon. "We'd love to have our own children, but we have a heart for kids, and we'd love to adopt," the 30-year-old Lachey told Us Weekly at a Big Brothers Big Sisters event in New York City. The magazine reports the couple is considering adopting a teenage child from an underdeveloped country. But don't expect the family expansion to be documented on their MTV reality show Nick &amp; Jessica: Newlyweds. The couple says this may be the last season for their MTV show. "Done!" Simpson told Us. "We're not newlyweds anymore. We've had our share of the cameras. We're at a point where we'll want everything for ourselves and our family."
Michael Moore wants judge to dismiss libel suit
A lawyer for filmmaker Michael Moore has asked a federal judge to dismiss a libel lawsuit filed by the brother of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, who is serving life in prison. James Nichols claims Moore tricked him into appearing in his 2002 Oscar-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine, which examined guns and violence in American culture. He also alleges Moore libeled him in the film by linking him to the 1995 bombing that killed 168 people. Moore's attorney said his client's claims in Bowling for Columbine--including the assertion that Nichols "slipped away" from authorities investigating the bombing--are protected as free speech. Wednesday's hearing focused on whether the one-year statute of limitations for libel claims had expired by the time Nichols filed suit on Oct. 27, 2003, the AP reports. The film opened in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 11, 2002.
Jeopardy! ratings skyrocket
Jeopardy! ratings have skyrocketed since seemingly unbeatable contestant Ken Jennings' winning streak started gaining media attention, Reuters reports. Jennings first appeared on the veteran quiz show June 2 and his winnings have since passed the $1 million mark. According to Nielsen Media Research's top 56 "metered" markets, Jeopardy! has tied with Wheel of Fortune for the first time this season, with both shows sitting in the No. 1 spot in the overall syndication rankings for the week. Tuesday's episode marked the 30th consecutive appearance for Jennings, a 30-year-old software developer from Salt Lake City. To mark the start of its 20th season last September, Jeopardy! lifted its five-game limit for winners and allowed them to return until they lose.
Croc hunter cleared of wrongdoing
The Australian government today cleared "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin of allegations he got too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales while making the documentary Ice Breaker in the Australian-controlled part of Antarctica. The documentary, which aired on the Animal Planet network last month, showed Irwin sliding down an icy slope with penguins and lying on a rock near a leopard seal. Getting too close to Antarctic wildlife can bring fines of up to $720,000 and two years in jail, the AP reports. This wasn't Irwin's first brush with wildlife controversy. A few months ago, critics called Irwin reckless for holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a pen at a zoo, but he said there was no danger to his son.

Hollywood.saw sharp declines across the board at the box office over the post-Thanksgiving weekend as moviegoing gave way to holiday shopping.
Buena Vista/Disney and Pixar's G-rated computer-animated blockbuster "Toy Story 2" held on to first place in its third weekend with a 50% drop that reflected how most films in the marketplace performed.
"Toy 2" snapped up a still hefty estimated $28.30 million (-50%) at 3,238 theaters (+2 theaters, $8,734 per theater). Its total is approximately $117.3 million, heading for a domestic theatrical total of $250 million-plus.
"Toy 2's" per-theater average was the highest for any film playing in wide release last weekend. Directed by John Lasseter, it features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Wayne Knight, Laurie Metcalf, Estelle Harris and R. Lee Ermey. Its score and two new songs were composed by Grammy Award winner Randy Newman.
The original "Toy Story" grossed about $190 million in the United States and Canada in 1995. It did about $360 million in worldwide ticket sales and sold more than 22 million videocassettes in the United States alone. If "Toy 2" hits $200 million by Dec. 31, Buena Vista will become the only distributor ever to have two films reaching $200 million in the same calendar year. The studio's blockbuster "The Sixth Sense" crossed the $200 million mark in early September.
"It's down 50% from Thanksgiving weekend, and I do not consider that bad at all," a Buena Vista distribution executive said Sunday morning. "It took us 11 days to reach $100 million (on Saturday). It is the biggest weekend for the first week in December, (beating) the original 'Toy Story' with $20.2 million."
MGM's PG-13-rated "The World Is Not Enough," the 19th James Bond epic, held on to second place in its third weekend with a quieter estimated $10.60 million (-55%) at 3,163 theaters (theater count unchanged, $3,345 per theater). Its total is approximately $90.4 million, heading for $120 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Michael Apted, it stars Pierce Brosnan in his third performance as 007.
Universal and Beacon Pictures' R-rated action-fantasy adventure "End of Days" came in third again with a less lively estimated $9.71 million (-53%) at 2,599 theaters (+6 theaters, $3,735 per theater). Its total is approximately $45.9 million. Directed by Peter Hyams, it stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"We all knew this was going to be a tough weekend. This is traditionally not a great weekend at the box office, but look at the numbers -- they were again record-breaking," Universal Distribution President Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "People are going to the movies. The economy is good. They're out there doing things. They're doing their Christmas shopping. That's what happens in a good economy. You don't have to choose between entertaining yourself or buying Christmas presents. You do both."
The rise of Internet shopping may be a helpful factor, as well, according to Rocco: "People have more free time for entertainment. You spend an hour in the morning online (shopping on the Web), and you can still go out and go to the movies and relax. There's more time for recreation."
Paramount's R-rated period action adventure "Sleepy Hollow" continued in fourth place in its third weekend with a sleepier estimated $9 million (-51%) at 3,069 theaters (+2 theaters, $2,933 per theater). Its total is approximately $74.3 million, on its way to $100 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Tim Burton, it stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci and is based on Washington Irving's classic "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
"It's not unexpected," Paramount Distribution President Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning, focusing on the post-Thanksgiving marketplace. "Obviously, you'd like for it to hold up better than it is. But it still gets us to a little over $100 million with the picture."
Universal's R-rated suspense thriller "The Bone Collector" rose one notch to return to the top five in its fifth weekend with a strong estimated $3.15 million (-43%) at 2,518 theaters (+18 theaters, $1,250 per theater). Its total is approximately $58.1 million. "Bone's" 43% drop was the lowest for any film in the top five. Directed by Phillip Noyce, it stars Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Sony's Columbia Pictures unit is partnered 50-50 with Universal on "Bone's" worldwide film rentals. Sony is releasing the picture internationally.
"We've been very fortunate. Where 'Bone Collector' is playing, it's just lingering in the multiplexes," Rocco said Sunday morning. "It's back in the top five, and it's hanging on. The goal was always $65 million (in domestic theaters) with this picture. It's certainly getting to $65 million, and it probably will get to $70 million."
Rocco noted that "Bone's" success is even greater given its relatively low production cost of about $40 million.
Warner Bros.' G-rated Japanese animated feature "Pokemon: The First Movie" slipped one peg to sixth place in its fourth weekend with a soft estimated $2.21 million (-69%) at 3,043 theaters (theater count unchanged, $726 per theater). Its total is approximately $80.6 million, heading for a domestic theatrical gross in the low $90 millions.
Lions Gate's release of "Dogma," the controversial R-rated irreverent comedy it took over from Miramax, held on to seventh place in its third weekend with an OK estimated $2.15 million (-37%) at 1,292 theaters (theater count unchanged, $1,664 per theater). Its total is approximately $24.5 million. Directed by Kevin Smith, it stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock.
Buena Vista/Touchstone's critically acclaimed R-rated drama "The Insider" rose one rung in its fifth weekend to eighth place with a quiet estimated $1.40 million (-45%) at 1,483 theaters (-189 theaters, $912 per theater). Its total is approximately $23.9 million. Directed by Michael Mann, it stars Al Pacino and Russell Crowe.
USA Films' R-rated comedy "Being John Malkovich" added theaters and jumped one slot to ninth place in its sixth weekend with an encouraging estimated $1.39 million (-33%) at 624 theaters (+35 theaters, $2,224 per theater). Its total is approximately $13.9 million. Directed by Spike Jonze, it stars John Malkovich, playing himself, John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and Catherine Keener.
"It's amazing," USA Films distribution head Jack Foley said Sunday morning. "We probably had the smallest drop among all the films out there from last weekend. At this level (of theaters), it puts you out there so you're going to feel the effects of the marketplace on you. We've held well. I think last weekend more people discovered the picture. And even in these shopping days, we're beginning to benefit (from word of mouth). This is a delight.
"Now as the (year-end critics) lists come in, hopefully, it will keep it buoyed up in everybody's mind. It is defying gravity. You know it's a great film, but to say (such an unusual) picture could have penetrated the markets of America this way and get this response is amazing."
Rounding out the Top 10 was 20th Century Fox's PG-13-rated mother-daughter drama "Anywhere But Here," down two notches in its fourth weekend with a calm estimated $1.30 million (-54%) at 1,628 theaters (-58 theaters, $799 per theater). Its total is approximately $16.4 million. The film is directed by Wayne Wang and stars Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman.
OTHER OPENINGS Weekend 49 also saw the arrival of 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilms Ltd.'s reissue of "Star Wars: Episode One -- The Phantom Menace" for a one-week charity run, placing 11th with a down-to-earth estimated $1.18 million at 832 theaters ($1,412 per theater). Its total s approximately $429 million.
Columbia's R-rated romantic drama "The End of the Affair" kicked off at 7 theaters, placing 23rd with an engaging estimated $0.20 million ($29,000 per theater). Directed by Neil Jordan, it stars Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore and Stephen Rea.
Sony Classics' PG-13 dark comedy "Sweet and Lowdown" opened exclusively in New York at 3 theaters, placing 24th with a strong estimated $0.10 million ($33,333 per theater). Sony Classics does not have its grosses tracked and released to the industry, but distribution insiders said they were hearing that the film did about $100,000. Directed by Woody Allen, it stars Sean Penn and Uma Thurman. Allen's films typically perform best in New York.
TriStar's R-rated youth appeal "Virtual Sexuality" kicked off at 101 theaters, placing 27th with a soft estimated $0.045 million ($450 per theater). Directed by Nick Hurran, it stars Laura Fraser and Rupert Penry.
Miramax's R-rated dark comedy "Holy Smoke" opened an Oscar qualifying run at 2 theaters, placing 28th with a promising estimated $0.032 million ($16,000 per theater). Directed by Jane Campion, it stars Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel.
"'Holy Smoke!'s' a pretty good start," Miramax's senior vice president, marketing, said Sunday morning. "It's always tricky when you do a one-week qualifying run (for Oscars) because the second week will tell you so much more. But it's pretty good, actually. There were a lot of Academy qualifier (runs this weekend), and we were leading that pack. Jan. 14 we reopen in the top 40 markets on about 100 screens."
Avalanche Releasing's romantic comedy "Spanish Fly" opened in 30th place to a dreary estimated $0.011 million at 7 theaters ($1,570 per theater). Written and directed by Daphna Kastner, it stars Kastner and Toni Canto.
USA Films' R-rated comedy-drama "Agnes Browne," directed by and starring Anjelica Huston, opened an Oscar qualifying run at 2 theaters, placing 31st with an unexciting estimated $0.006 million ($2,929 per theater). The film will open in March, USA Films' Foley said Sunday morning.
Also opening was First Look Entertainment's drama "A Map of the World" in L.A. and New York for a weeklong Academy Awards-qualifying run. No estimates were available since First Look does not have its grosses tracked and released to the industry. Directed by Scott Elliott, it stars Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore.
SNEAK PREVIEWS Weekend 49 saw no national sneak previews. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front, Weekend 49 saw Miramax's PG-13-rated comedy "Mansfield Park" widen slightly in its third weekend, placing 22nd with a promising estimated $0.23 million (-33%) at 32 theaters (+2 theaters, $7,031 per theater). Its total is approximately $0.85 million. Directed by Patricia Rozema, it stars Embeth Davidtz, Jonny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Frances O'Connor and Harold Pinter. USA Films' R-rated Civil War action-drama "Ride With The Devil" added theaters in its second weekend, placing 26th place with a slow estimated $0.053 million at 15 theaters (+4 theaters, $3,554 per theater). Its total is approximately $0.17 million. Directed by Ang Lee, it stars Tobey Maguire, Skeet Ulrich and pop singer Jewel. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Weekend 49's key films, those grossing more than $500,000 for the weekend, took in approximately $75.31 million, up approximately 10.66% from $68.05 million for the comparable weekend last year. Weekend 49's key film gross was down approximately 50.86% from the $153.26 million that key films took in during the Friday-Sunday portion of this year's five-day Weekend 48. Last year, Buena Vista/Disney's second weekend of "A Bug's Life" was first with $17.17 million at 2,701 theaters ($6,358 per theater), and Universal's opening weekend of "Psycho" was second with $10.03 million at 2,477 theaters ($4,050 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $27.2 million. This year, the top two films grossed an estimated $38.9 million. For the first 49 weekends of 1999, ticket sales were approximately $4.665 billion, up about 4.84% from 1998's gross of $4.450 billion. Of this year's 49 weekends, 28 were up (one marginally and one because of a four-day vs. three-day holiday weekend comparison) and 21 were down (three only marginally and one because of a holiday vs. nonholiday comparison) vs. last year. STUDIO MARKET SHARES Based on business by key films, the top six distributors in Weekend 49 were the following: Buena Vista (Touchstone and Disney) was first with three films ("Toy Story 2," "The Insider" and "The Sixth Sense") grossing an estimated $30.67 million or 40.7% of the market. Universal was second with three films ("End Of Days," "The Bone Collector" and "The Best Man") grossing an estimated $13.45 million or 17.9% of the market. MGM was third with two films ("The World Is Not Enough" and "Flawless") grossing an estimated $11.55 million or 15.3% of the market. Paramount was fourth with two films ("Sleepy Hollow" and "Double Jeopardy") grossing an estimated $9.54 million or 12.7% of the market. Twentieth Century Fox was fifth with two films ("Anywhere But Here" and "Star Wars: Episode One -- The Phantom Menace") grossing an estimated $2.48 million or 3.3% of the market. Warner Bros. was sixth with one film ("Pokemon: The First Movie") grossing an estimated $2.21 million or 2.9% of the market. ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES (11) "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"/Fox: (see OTHER OPENINGS above) (reissue)
(12) "The Sixth Sense"/BV: Theaters: 1,034 (+17) Gross: $0.97 million (-37%) Average per theater: $937 Total: $273.6 million
(13) "Flawless"/MGM Theaters: 478 (0) Gross: $0.95 million (-40%) Average per theater: $1,995 Total: $3.4 million
(14) "American Beauty"/DreamWorks: Theaters: 694 (+109) Gross: $0.78 million (-33%) Average per theater: $1,130 Total: $67.6 million
(15) "The Best Man"/Universal: Theaters: 511 (+5) Gross: $0.59 million (-51%) Average per theater: $1,160 Total: $32.1 million
(16) "The Messenger"/Sony: Theaters: 977 (-995) Gross: $0.55 million (-54%) (tie) Average per theater: $563 Total: $13.7 million
(16) "The Bachelor"/New Line: Theaters: 1,044 (-289) Gross: $0.55 million (-52%) (tie) Average per theater: $527 Total: $20.6 million
(18) "Double Jeopardy"/Paramount: Theaters: 708 (-132) Gross: $0.54 million (-47%) Average per theater: $755 Total: $113.0 million
(19) "The House on Haunted Hill"/Warner Bros.: Theaters: 651 (-390) Gross: $0.37 million (-47%)(tie) Average per theater: $575 Total: $39.2 million
(19) "Music of the Heart"/Miramax: Theaters: 858 (+64) Gross: $0.37 million (-52%)(tie) Average per theater: $435 Total: $14.0 million
(21) "The Omega Code"/Providence: Theaters: 405 (+106) Gross: $0.30 million (-40%) Average per theater: $745 Total: $11.9 million
(22) Mansfield Park/Miramax: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(23) "The End of the Affair"/Columbia: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(24) "Sweet and Lowdown"/Sony Pictures Classics: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(25) "Liberty Heights"/Warner Bros.: Theaters: 6 (0) Gross: $0.068 million (-32%) Average per theatre: $11,333 Total: $0.4 million
(26) "Ride With the Devil"/USA Films: (see EXPANSIONS above)
(27) "Virtual Sexuality"/TriStar: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(28) "Holy Smoke!"/Miramax: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(29) "Tumbleweeds"/Fine Line: Theaters: 5 (0) Gross: $0.017 million (-59%) Average per theater: $3,344 Total: $0.077 million
(30) "Spanish Fly"/Lions Gate Films: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)
(31) "Agnes Browne"/USA Films: (see OTHER OPENINGS above)

Top Story: The Donald Fires Kwame, Hires Bill
Bill Rancic, a Chicago-based cigar company entrepreneur, prevailed in the cutthroat game of corporate politics played in NBC's hit reality series to be named real estate mogul Donald Trump's first Apprentice. In the two-hour finale of the show Rancic barely beat out Wall Street investment manager Kwame Jackson, securing a $250,000-a-year job supervising construction of a new Trump skyscraper in Chicago and a new Chrysler Crossfire. Reuters reports Rancic told reporters after the show that he thought his agility and adaptability had helped him win, along with a preference for micromanaging, which Trump advocated in his latest book. Jackson, however, freely admitted many times during the finale that he preferred not to be a micromanager. "Today is a great day for entrepreneurs around the country," Rancic gushed. "And it's probably the biggest day of my life." On the other hand, calling himself "an unadulterated capitalist," Jackson promised, "you'll see me cutting deals all across the board," starting with his new TV, video game and live event production company.
Schwarzenegger Appoints Friends to Film Board
In an effort to bolster the film business in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named former Twins co-star Danny DeVito and actor/director Clint Eastwood to the California Film Commission, a 26-member group that will encourage filmmakers to make films in the Golden State and will work to reduce taxes and other liabilities that make Hollywood less attractive to filmmakers, Reuters reports. "The mission is very important to keep production here," Schwarzenegger said at a press conference Thursday, referring to the flight of Hollywood productions to other countries such as Canada and the Czech Republic, many of which offer incentives to film there. "We want to make sure that Hollywood becomes the booming town it once was." Others on the board include actor/director Bill Duke and producers Lili Zanuck and Tom Werner.
HIV Scare Shuts Down Porn Industry
California's multibillion-dollar adult porn industry ground to a virtual halt on Thursday after a popular actor, Darren James, tested positive for the HIV virus, Reuters reports. James tested positive for HIV on Wednesday in a screening conducted routinely on the industry's 1,200 regular actors by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) Foundation, the foundation's Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell told Reuters. They must show negative tests to keep working in the industry, Mitchell said, adding that only about 17 percent of performers use condoms. Mitchell said James might have contracted the virus about four weeks ago while filming in Brazil on a "non-condom" set. Industry advocates immediately called for a 60-day suspension on filming so that others James may have infected could be tested.
Cobain Biopic Planned
The WB Network is developing an original movie about late rock icon Kurt Cobain, the frontman for the band Nirvana who shot himself in 1994. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the network has obtained the rights to Charles Cross' 2001 book Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain, could be aired as early as next season. The day Kurt Cobain died was the day the music died for a generation," Tana Nugent Jamieson, senior VP of the WB's new longform original programming unit, told the Reporter. "His story is perfect for our audience." No casting or director is attached.
American Idol Be Damned!
After the surprising success of Idol reject William Hung, the WB is also launching a new reality series called The WB's Superstar USA, in which the contestants are unaware of the true nature of the show--that the judges are looking for "singers" who do not really sing that well, Reuters reports. The show, which the network calls "an off-key version of the red hot performance reality genre," will air over seven episodes beginning May 17.
All-Gay Cabler Launches
Here! TV, a supplier of gay and lesbian-oriented content to satellite customers via pay-per-view, is eyeing an Oct. 1 launch for a round-the-clock programming service that will feature classic and original films and TV shows, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Some of Here!'s original content includes series Dante's Cove, a gay and lesbian Gothic horror thriller and Weapons of Mass Destruction, a spy thriller.
Role Call: Malkovich Hitches Ride to Galaxy
John Malkovich has signed to do the feature film adaptation of the classic Douglas Adams novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The story follows an undercover alien, Ford Prefect, who sets off on an intergalactic journey with his best friend and the film's protagonist, earthling Arthur Dent. The duo hitch a ride through space--with the two-headed ex-hippie Zaphod; his girlfriend, the beautiful scientist Trillion; and a robot--to discover the meaning of life. Galaxy begins shooting this month in London, with Garth Jennings at the helm and stars Mos Def, Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel and Sam Rockwell. Malkovich will play religious cult leader Humma Kavula.

They ride together. They die together. They conquer the box office together.
The buddy sequel Bad Boys II proved a formidable opponent for an angst-y teen girl, a ship of cursed pirates and a bumbling secret agent at the box office weekend. The shoot 'em up actioner gunned down the competition with a lawful *$46.7 million, defeating the espionage spoof Johnny English, which snuck in at fourth place with a furtive $9.3 million, and the adolescent drama How To Deal, which opened in eighth position with a meager $5.8 million.
Bad Boys II also trounced last week's box office topper, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The swashbuckling tale, however, did not experience the typical second week drop off and continued to sail smoothly with an impressive $33.3 million--down only 29 percent from last week.
But while moviegoers demonstrated they hadn't had their fill of pirates just yet, they certainly weren't interested in learning how to deal. How To Deal failed to strike a chord with teen audiences, and it looks as though star Mandy Moore will find out what happens when the box office "gets turned upside down."
Rounding out the Top Five were the period thriller The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which came in third with $10.1 million, and the sci-fi actioner Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which landed in fifth place with $9.1 million.
THE TOP TEN
Sony Picture's R rated buddy actioner Bad Boys II premiered at the top of the box office with an ESTIMATED take of $46.7 million at 3,186 theaters. Its $14,658 per theater average was the highest of any film playing wide this weekend.
In the sequel, Miami narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett become part of a high-tech task force assigned to stem the flow of designer ecstasy into the city and inadvertently uncover a deadly conspiracy involving a ruthless drug lord.
Directed by Michael Bay, it stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jordi Molla, Gabrielle Union and Peter Stormare.
Buena Vista Pictures' PG-13 rated fantasy actioner Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, last week's box office champ, came in second in its second week with an ESTIMATED $33.3 million (-29%) at 3,359 theaters (+90 theaters; $9,914 per theater). Its cume is $132.2 million.
Directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, it stars Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.
Twentieth Century Fox's PG-13 rated period thriller The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fell one spot to third place in its second week with an ESTIMATED $10.1 million (-56%) at 3,002 theaters (unchanged; $3,364 per theater). Its cume is approximately $42.4 million.
Directed by Stephen Norrington, it stars Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend, Shane West and Jason Flemyng.
Universal Pictures' PG rated spy spoof Johnny English took fourth place with an ESTIMATED $9.3 million at 2,236 theaters with a $4,159 per theater average.
In the film, the British Secret Service calls upon bumbling secret agent Johnny English when a plan to filch the monarchy's Crown Jewels comes to their attention.
Directed by Peter Howitt, it stars Rowan Atkinson, Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller and John Malkovich.
Warner Bros.' R rated sci-fi actioner Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines dropped two places to No. 5 in its third week with an ESTIMATED $9.1 million (-53%) at 3,404 theaters (-100; $2,701 per theater). Its cume is approximately $127.7 million.
Directed by Jonathan Mostow, it stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken.
Buena Vista/Disney and Pixar Animation Studios' G rated computer-animated feature Finding Nemo fell only one spot in its eighth week to sixth place with an ESTIMATED $7.3 million (-14%) at 2,408 theaters (-163 theaters; $2,944 per theater). Its cume is approximately $303.8 million.
Directed and co-written by Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton, it features the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe and Brad Garrett.
*Box office estimates provided by Exhibitor Relations, Inc.
MGM's PG-13 rated Legally Blonde 2: Red, White &amp; Blonde fell three rungs to seventh in its third week with an ESTIMATED $6.1 million (-49%) at 3,205 theaters (-170 theaters; $1,903 per theater). Its cume is approximately $75.4 million.
Directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, it stars Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field, Regina King, Bob Newhart and Jennifer Coolidge.
New Line Cinema's PG-13 rated drama How To Deal debuted disappointingly in eighth place with an ESTIMATED $2.5 million at 2,319 theaters with a $2,501 per theater average.
Based on a combination of two young adult romance novels by Sarah Dessen (Someone Like You and That Summer), the film revolves around a teenage girl who doesn't believe in storybook romance--until she meets the right guy.
Directed by Clare Kilner, it stars Mandy Moore, Trent Ford, Alexandra Holden, Allison Janney and Peter Gallagher.
Sony Picture's PG-13 rated Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle dropped three places to ninth in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $3.7 million (-48%) at 2,261 theaters (-941 theaters; $1,636 per theater). Its cume is approximately $89.1 million.
Directed by McG, it stars Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Bernie Mac.
Fox Searchlight's R rated sci-fi thriller 28 Days Later dropped one place to round out the Top Ten in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $2.5 million (-40%) at 1,310 theaters (-86 theaters; $1,947 per theater). Its cume is approximately $33.4 million.
Directed by Danny Boyle, it stars Cillian Murphy, Naomi Harris, Brendan Gleeson and Megan Burns.
OTHER OPENINGS
Miramax's R rated crime drama Dirty Pretty Things opened in five theaters this weekend and took in an ESTIMATED $101,000 with a strong $20,200 per theater average.
In the film, a kind-hearted Nigerian doctor who works at a seedy West London hotel finds a human heart in one of the toilets and uncovers something far more sinister than just a common crime.
Directed by Stephen Frears, it stars Chewitil Ejiofor, Sergi Lopez and AudreyTautou.
Fox Searchlight's R rated musical comedy Garage Days, meanwhile, opened in 23 theaters and took in an ESTIMATED $21,160 with a $920 per theater average.
The film is a coming-of-age comedy about a young Sydney band trying to get a foothold in the competitive world of rock n' roll.
Directed by Alex Proyas, it stars Kick Gurry, Maya Stange, Pia Miranda and Chris Sadrinna.
WEEKEND COMPARISON
The Top 12 films this weekend grossed an ESTIMATED $137.6 million, up a whopping 33.63 percent from last year's take of $102.9 million. The Top 12 films were also up .58 percent from last weekend when they grossed $136.8 million.
Last year, DreamWorks' R rated drama Road to Perdition topped the box office in its second week of release with $15.4 million at 2,159 theaters (+326 theaters; $7,139 per theater average), Sony's G rated Stuart Little 2 debuted in the No. 2 position with $15.1 million at 3,225 theaters with a $4,644 per theater average and Sony's PG-13 rated Men in Black II followed in third place in its third week with $14.5 million at 3,641 theaters ((+30; $3,997 per theater).

Although the film's title suggests there might be some deeply relevant British national allegory in the film post-colonialist comedy fans shouldn't get their hopes up. The plot of Johnny English such as it is goes something like this: The title character a bumbling junior-level spy (Rowan Atkinson) is suddenly thrust into active duty when every other agent in the British Secret Service is blown to smithereens during a bombing at a fellow agent's funeral. When the Crown Jewels are stolen it's up to English to discover the culprit and in the process he unearths a plot to replace the Queen of England with a French entrepreneur who has some pretty nasty real estate development plans for Merry Olde Blighty. It's a sorry excuse for a story sure but such paltry fare as plot character development and dialogue don't matter much when you connect the bits with U.K. fave Atkinson hamming it up in his trademark blundering way. And he really is funny in this movie--maybe not pee-your-pants funny but certainly hoot-out-loud funny. As with any spy spoof some of the shtick works and some doesn't but on the whole Atkinson and Co. do a good job in spite of the contrived script and pithy lines writers Neal Purvis Robert Wade and William Davies have pieced together for them.
If Cervantes' Don Quixote were a modern-day spy this would be his story. Atkinson tilts at Johnny English's windmills with the vigor and extravagance fans of the comedian's trademarked physical comedy have come to expect. Whether he's crashing a funeral pantomiming to ABBA in front of his bathroom mirror invading a hospital with guns blazing or getting his tie caught in a sushi bar conveyor belt Atkinson gives this movie's hackneyed scenes personality they probably wouldn't have had in any other actor's hands. Comedian and fellow Brit Ben Miller takes his first strokes across the pond as English's sidekick Bough playing Sancho Panza to Atkinson's Quixote to fairly good effect. The real "straight man" in this farce however is Natalie Imbruglia as love interest Lorna Campbell. The girl can't act her way out of a paper bag but when you look the way she does in leather pants and stilettos talent is beside the point. John Malkovich is underutilized as the villain Pascal Sauvage whose anti-English (that's the nation not the spy) sentiments have driven him to lay claim to the throne of England which he plans to use for nefarious purposes.
Based as it is on a character Atkinson created for a TV commercial for a major British credit card it's not surprising that the characters in Johnny English are far more entertaining when they're improvising 60-second physical comedy scenes than when they're attempting to further the so-called plot. What is surprising is that such pedigreed moviemakers as director Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors) production company Working Title Films (producers of Elizabeth Fargo and Billy Elliot) and producer Mark Huffam (The Hours) are attached to such a silly film. Then again everybody needs to let loose sometime; maybe this is their idea of a vacation.

Top Story: Britney's No Virgin
Britney Spears is no longer a virgin, despite her oath she would remain one until marriage. In an upcoming interview in the August issue of W magazine, the pop princess confessed she had sex with her former boyfriend, singer Justin Timberlake, because she believed she'd marry him someday. "I've only slept with one person my whole life," she said in the interview. "It was two years into my relationship with Justin, and I thought he was the one. But I was wrong!" Spears continued, "The most painful thing I have ever experienced was that breakup. We were together so long and I had this vision. You think you're going to spend the rest of your life together. Where I come from, the woman is the homemaker, and that's how I was brought up--you cook for your kids. But now I realize I need my single time."
Jolie Talks About Sex, Self-Mutilation
Angelina Jolie is admitting she's done some pretty wild things in her past but has since changed her ways. In an interview with Barbara Walters set to air Friday on ABC's 20/20, the Oscar-winning actress talked about her brief but passionate marriage to ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton as well as her past fascination with knives and self-mutilation, Reuters reports. Describing her relationship with Thornton, Jolie said, "We're not friends, no. It's like we just changed." Jolie added she has been transformed by motherhood after adopting a Cambodian-born boy last year. "I think when you make a decision to have a child, you cannot think about suicide again and you can't be self-destructive." The interview will air Friday on ABC's 20/20.
Blake's Lawyer Wants New Witness's Testimony
Robert Blake's lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr. has asked for a special pretrial session to question a new witness, Diane Mattson, in the murder case against Blake, The Associated Press reports. Mattson claims she overheard Christian Brando--the son of actor Marlon Brando, who had had a relationship with Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, before her shooting death in May 2001--tell two stuntmen that Bakely should be shot "in the head." Mesereau Jr. told AP Mattson is "scared to death" of Brando, fearing for her life, and wants to preserve her testimony now to discourage anyone from causing her injury or trying to prevent her from testifying at the trial, AP reports. A hearing to determine the urgency of this testimony has been set for Thursday. An official trial date has not been determined.
Angels Nonchalant About Box Office Numbers
Although their new film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle hasn't met up to expectations at the U.S. box office, having taken in only $67 million in over two weeks, money apparently doesn't matter to stars Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore. On the film's press tour in Europe, the three best pals agreed Tuesday they didn't really care how much the film made, just so long as they were able to make the movie together, Reuters reports. "It doesn't mean anything to us," Diaz said in an interview with journalists in Berlin. "I'm not interested in breaking records." Full Throttle's debut weekend brought in $38 million, just below its predecessor Charlie's Angels, which opened in 2000 with $40 million.
Former Stripper Sues Stripperella Creators
An ex-stripper from Florida is suing over new TNN animated series Stripperella, about a tough lady who strips for a living but moonlights as a superhero, claiming she was the one who came up with the original idea, AP reports. Named in the suit are actress Pamela Anderson, the voice of the character; comic legend and Stripperella creator Stan Lee and TNN. Janet Clover, 37, claims she came up with the idea during a private dance session with Lee a year ago. "I'm just trying to get this off TV because it's not his idea," Clover told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. "I can't remember much about Mr. Lee, little bits and pieces come back. You know, I meet a lot of men."
Role Call: Zellweger and Crowe in Cinderella Story, Malkovich Is Found in the Street
Renee Zellweger and Russell Crowe are set to star in Ron Howard's Cinderella Man for Miramax Films and Universal Pictures. Variety reports Crowe will play Jim Braddock, the Depression-era boxer who became a folk hero by winning a brutal 15-round match against heavyweight champion Max Baer in 1935. Zellweger will play Braddock's wife…John Malkovich's production company, Mr. Mudd, has taken on the film project Found in the Street, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the indie film will be a psychological suspense thriller about a chance encounter between several people in New York's Greenwich Village, including a middle-aged security guard, an artist, his bisexual wife and a lesbian waitress/model. A series of events leads to murder and blame.

Adapted and directed the Steppenwolf production of Don DeLillo's "Libra," starring Laurie Metcalf and Alexis Arquette

Offered an intriguing turn as the treacherous French aristocrat Valmont in "Dangerous Liaisons," helmed by Stephen Frears; on-set romance with co-star Michelle Pfieffer led to end of his marriage to Glenne Headly

Acted opposite Gerard Depardieu in French television adaptation of "Les Misérables"; English language version aired in U.S. 2001 on Fox Family Channel

Summary

Equally adept on stage and on screen, acclaimed actor and occasional director John Malkovich long remained an enigma to audiences, while establishing himself as one of the most distinguished and accomplished performers of his generation. After proving himself a venerable thespian with the famed Steppenwolf Theatre company, Malkovich made an immediate impact when he transitioned to the big screen, delivering memorable award-worthy performances in "The Killing Fields" (1984) and "Places in the Heart" (1984). He achieved sex symbol status - an unlikely distinction for the gangly actor - with his performance in the decadent drama "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988), but then he languished for a spell in rather insubstantial films that added nothing to his previous acclaim. All that changed with his Oscar-nominated performance as a would-be presidential assassin in "In the Line of Fire" (1993), which opened the door for Malkovich to play charming, but psychotic killers - for good or ill. Malkovich reached certain notoriety playing a somewhat fictional take on himself in the wildly absurd "Being John Malkovich" (1999), which once again displayed the actor's unique ability to keep audiences guessing while churning out one fine performance after another.

Married Aug. 2, 1982; Appeared together in "Eleni" (1985) and "Making Mr. Right" (1987); also a member of Steppenwolf stage ensemble; Malkovich directed Headly in the Broadway production of "Arms and the Man"; Divorced Jan. 1, 1988

Daniel Malkovich

Father

Born on Dec. 20, 1926; served as state conservation director; published a conservation magazine; Died suddenly of a heart attack in March 1980 at the age of 53

Joe Malkovich

Mother

Owned the Benton Evening News; known to her children as 'Frog' because of her deep voice

Met on the set of "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988); Malkovich's on-set romance with co-star Pfieffer led to end of his marriage to Glenne Headly ; No longer together

Education

Name

Illinois State University

Eastern Illinois University

Notes

"The hardest thing about this part was all the running I had to do, I hate running and don't intend to do it again for a long time. I didn't train for the running scenes either, I just put down my cigarettes for a minute and ran." – Malkovich, remarking on his role in "In the Line of Fire" to The Los Angeles Times, July 4, 1993

"So how do you do it? How do you get a room full of strangers who don't know you or care about you, people who are pissed off that they had to pay twenty or thirty dollars for a ticket, people who have seen hundreds of plays already and want something different, people leading average, everyday, boring lives who are looking to you to fill that void in their soul – how do you get through to them? There is no answer really, except that you have to work as hard as you can to burst through all that. And if you fail, so what? That's part of it. You have to be thick-skinned about it and go on." – Malkovich quoted in Buzz magazine, October 1994

"So I understand people's concern and it's a right concern. And I do very few violent films. Certainly would not want to do them as a steady diet. But I think parents should do a lot better job raising their children and teaching them the difference between reality and fantasy. And giving them some idea of what it means to cause pain to others in a real sense.

"Hollywood's at fault, sure, there's no question about that. But it's a business. If people don't go to these films, they won't be made...But I don't mind a certain amount of violence because the world is violent...Why not have an acquaintance with it so that when you encounter it in life you have some familiarity with it?" – Malkovich quoted in The Los Angeles Times, June 4, 1997

Malkovich designed a menswear line in 2001 called Uncle Kimono. He stopped in 2006. He launched a new line called Technobohemian in 2008.